All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton are surely looking to build a young squad capable of challenging for the top six in the next few years. To that end, Daniel James would become a Goodison Park hero if he joined this next generation.

The Swansea winger has impressed clubs across the country this season, and it’s seen The Sun (28 April, page 59, via HITC) claim his club have slapped a £10m price tag on him. Indeed, it’s not surprising considering he’s just 21-years-old but has played with such class.

He’s made 33 appearances for the Swans this campaign, scoring four and assisting nine. His confidence on the ball is clear and the excitement he’d bring to Goodison is too. Football Insider claimed as recently as the 6th of this month that the Toffees are already eyeing up a summer swoop.

The full Wales international has performed well on that stage too. It shows he’s clearly got the mentality to succeed at the top level and that’s where himself and Everton aim to be very soon. Silva will be admiring him from afar, no doubt.

He’s got one year left on his contract, so this summer is massive. Swansea could cash in on him or persuade him to sign a new deal because there’s no way they’re letting him run down the contract and leave for free. Everton need to convince him now.

Surely that shouldn’t be too hard. Come and join this hugely exciting project and grow with it, offer some excitement to a raucous home crowd all too often deprived of joy and spearhead a team looking to cause serious damage in the race for the top six.

Sounds perfect, right?

The Welshman could be the next hero at Goodison Park. They’ve been begging for exciting wing play for years and this lad has it in abundance. If Marcel Brands can secure him for just the £10m mentioned late last month, then that could be one of their greatest ever signings in the long-term.

Everton fans, which winger do you think your club should sign this season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left concerned by the future of left-back Danny Rose, who has confirmed that his final game for the club could come in the Champions League final, per The Guardian.

The full-back faces an uncertain summer, with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino set to revamp his squad in the summer transfer window.

The former Leeds United star says that he has continually seen his own name linked with an exit and that he is desperate to go out with a bang if he is to depart.

He said: “I keep seeing my name that I’m being sold, so if that’s the case and it’s going to be my last game for Tottenham against Liverpool, I’m hoping to go out with a bang and lift a trophy.

“It’s a Champions League final so individual situations have to take a back seat and you have to put the club first. We are going to do that. We do realise we have a chance to make history.”

Spurs face Liverpool in the final in Madrid on June 1, having overcome Ajax in the most dramatic of circumstances on Wednesday evening. Lucas Moura scored a hat-trick, with his third goal coming in the final minute of injury-time.

The Reds, meanwhile, beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate and Spurs fans are clearly concerned about the prospect of the England international leaving this summer.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

[ad_pod ]

According to Football Insider, Wolves are interested in Reading starlet Danny Loader, who has been impressing in the Championship this season. However, by signing him, it could be incredibly detrimental for certain members of the club’s academy.

What’s the word?

Loader has quickly become one of the most promising young English players in the country, starring for the Royals this season after initially finding himself in superb form in Premier League 2.

Before being promoted to the first team, he scored ten goals for their U23 side. He would then go on to feature 21 times in the Championship.

Despite only scoring once, the threat he’s provided in attacking areas of the pitch has caught the eye of Wolves, who are now plotting a move for the 19-year-old, per Football Insider. The report also claims that a host of Premier League club have monitored the player.

Detrimental for the academy

By signing Loader, Wolves could be sending out a dangerous message to some of their brightest prospects already at the club.

The Reading man has a huge amount of potential but it would be incredibly detrimental for the likes of Niall Ennis and Benny Ashley-Seal.

Both players are also forwards who possess similar attacking traits to Loader.

However, if the latter was to arrive then any chance of Ennis and Ashley-Seal gaining first team minutes would take a severe hit.

It’s a struggle to get into the Wolves side as it is, especially with Nuno Santo preferring a lack of rotation.

The aforementioned Wolves academy players scored a combined 20 goals between them as Rob Edwards’ U23 side went onto win Premier League 2 Division 2. With that in mind, they certainly deserve a chance to show what they’re capable of at senior level.

What’s your club’s best chant? Check out the video below for a Wolves epic that surely has to be one of the best in English football…

Ennis has had major setbacks with injury in the past whilst Ashley-Seal has spent the second half of the campaign on loan in Portugal with Familicao.

If Loader was to sign, both players would likely be pushed further down the pecking order and may have them doubting their futures at Molineux.

The way that Steven Gerrard is going about life at Ibrox is mightily impressive and if he can carry on bringing in young hungry players then the Gers will be well set to compete with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League next year. However, one signing that they have to make for that to happen is that of Ryan Kent, who could be re-loaned.

The young Liverpool winger has been nothing short of stellar at the Glasgow club this season. His return of six goals and nine assists in 42 appearances in all competitions have seen him named the Scottish Premier League’s Young Player of the Year and it will come as a surprise to no one that Steven Gerrard has been talking about potentially re-loaning the young attacker.

Kent is one of many loanees who has made his way to Ibrox this season, but he has undoubtedly been the most successful of the season. Gerrard didn’t have much luck with his other loanee from his former club when he brought Ovie Ejaria in, but Kent has more than made up for that. The 220year-old also faces some uncertainties of his own, as he’s unlikely to make the grade at Anfield, but has been a class above Scottish football.

Gerrard will know this as well as anyone. It won’t bother him one bit that Kent looks to be better than playing in Scotland and he will be as keen as ever to bring in the youngster for more season, even if it is just a temporary one in Glasgow. There is a lot about Kent to get excited about, and if Rangers get him for one more year then there is a real chance that they can end Celtic’s domestic dominance.

We’re not going to claim that Kent can help Rangers win a treble of their own, but if the £1.58 million ace, as rated by Transfermarkt, finds himself back at Ibrox next season then Gerrard will have a much better chance of winning silverware, even if only the Scottish League Cup. Nine in a row is going to be tough to stop next season, but if the Bluenoses are to do it, they will most definitely need Kent again.

[ad_pod ]

James Tavernier has been singled out for praise by former teammate Russell Martin, who has described the Rangers captain as ‘the best player in Scotland’, as reported by The Daily Record.

What’s he said?

Martin of course knows Tavernier very well having played with him for six months prior to Steven Gerrard’s arrival at Ibrox.

He was signed when Graeme Murty was in charge of the club following the failed tenure of Pedro Caixinha but did not win a permanent deal after a loan spell.

The central defender is in no doubt who the best player was while he was at Ibrox, believing that Tavernier not only stands out as Rangers’ top star, but also as the best talent in the country.

As quoted by The Daily Record, the 33-year-old said:

Last season was the toughest of my career. I saw both sides of the game, players who assume responsibility and those who don’t.

That will be invaluable for me as someone who wants to be a coach and a manager.

I believe Rangers have the best player in Scotland in the shape of James. What he does in terms of a right-back is incredible. He drives the team forward by what he does, scoring goals and leading by example.

He’s not an old-school captain in terms of ranting and raving but there are guys who lead by character and others who lead by example. Tav steps up during times of adversity and has got better season after season.

Is he right?

Tavernier’s importance to Rangers is undeniable.

Some supporters have questioned his leadership abilities this season, especially after some disappointing results, but clearly he is the player the rest of the squad look to and you can’t question his desire to push Rangers on and impact football matches.

He takes a great amount of pressure on his shoulders stepping up to take spot-kicks and his 17 goals this season is evidence enough he can handle that with aplomb.

With an unbelievable 20 assists too, is there another player who shows as much ambition to get forward and create opportunities for his team?

As for the title of ‘best in Scotland’, well that’s a little harder to justify given some of the other players both at Rangers and in the league. Ibrox fans won’t care about that though, most are perfectly happy with what he contributes as it stands.

[ad_pod ]With the transfer window seemingly on hold for Arsenal until their Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku is concluded, rumours will continue to pop up here and there.The latest has come completely from left field, with AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma linked with a move to North London.According to Tuttomercatoweb the Gunners are looking to sign the Italian who’s been a regular at the club since the age of 16. He’s gone on to emerge as one of the hottest prospects in world football.Arsenal have had issues with goalkeepers for many years, but the latest rumour does seem completely false, with 2018 summer sign Bernd Leno impressing between the posts since his arrival and Emi Martinez due to return from a successful loan spell at Reading.Since the German goalkeeper arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, he’s looked a brilliant shot-stopper with the odd mistake coming from set pieces, but all-in-all he’s been a terrific addition to the Arsenal squad.Links to Donnarumma therefore make little-to-no sense as the Italian would surely demand a starting place in the team and Leno doesn’t look like getting dropped any time soon. Arsenal fans quickly jumped on the rumour, and rightly haven’t believed a word of it…

[ad_pod ]Leeds United fans are taking a much more positive view on the potential investment from Qatar Sports Investments after it was reported that they are looking to buy out only a small share of the club.Previously some supporters were concerned about the implications of QSI taking over at Elland Road, but now they seem to be much more open to the idea as they wouldn’t have too much control at the club.There have been many conflicting reports about what the PSG owners are planning to do at the Yorkshire club.However, Mike Thornton, Director of Leeds Fans United, has been speaking to French journalist Abdellah Boulma and has been told that the QSI and Leeds have an agreement that QSI will purchase a 10% stake in the club. Thornton himself estimates that would cost QSI a figure in the region between £7m and £10m.

According to Boulma, this should open the door for Leeds to bring in some of PSG’s young talent on loan deals. Jese Rodriguez has already been linked with a move to the Championship club, and certain sections of the fanbase are hoping that the club can utilise their link with the French giants in order to loan players.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying about the rumours on Twitter…

[ad_pod ]

According to Sky Sport reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, AC Milan have contacted Liverpool over a potential move for Dejan Lovren.

Lovren has made 170 appearances for Liverpool since a 2014 move from Southampton – including 18 in all competitions last term.

The 29-year-old played a key role in Croatia reaching the final of the 2018 World Cup but it would be fair to say that he is behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the pecking order when it comes to Liverpool centre-backs.

And the Merseyside outfit’s fans have reacted positively to the claim that Milan could sign the 52-cap ace in this summer’s transfer window.

Lovren has his critics but could certainly thrive in a different setting.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

And losing a player of his experience would weaken the European Cup holders unless Jurgen Klopp’s side bring another centre-back to Anfield this summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the club’s fans can be seen below:

It was going to happen sooner or later, right?

With Jose Mourinho out of work and Chelsea on the lookout for a new manager as Maurizio Sarri finalises his move to Juventus (via Sky Sports), it was surely only a matter of time before the 56-year-old’s name entered the conversation.

According to The Sun, Mourinho would seriously consider taking up the reins at Stamford Bridge for a third time if the opportunity presented itself. And from his point of view, it makes perfect sense.

With the Juventus job about to be filled and nothing currently available at the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea are the only club presently who can offer their former coach Champions League football, a strongish squad and a large transfer budget.

Why would a manager of Mourinho’s pedigree turn that down? From Chelsea’s perspective, though, turning to the former Manchester United boss would surely be a step backwards.

Last time we all checked, the Blues were trying to become a more adventurous team, hence the appointment of Sarri. Bearing that in mind, names like Mourinho, Massimiliano Allegri and Nuno Espirito Santo make no sense.

Also, let us not forget that Mourinho practically sold off Chelsea’s future for one Premier League title and a measly League Cup.

Had he shown faith in the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Mohamed Salah and actually tried to develop them, who knows where both he and the Blues would be right now?

If Chelsea want pragmatism and another short-term option, then by all means they should go for Mourinho. But just like last time, there are reasons to suggest – following his sacking at Manchester United – it could end badly.

Chelsea fans, do you want to see Mourinho back at Stamford Bridge? Let us know in the comment section below.

[ad_pod ]

English Premier League clubs are circling around Celtic’s Callum McGregor this summer, as reported by The Scotsman.

What’s the story?

McGregor has been one of the Hoops’ most important players over the last three years and has a case to be considered as the best player in Scottish football right now.

No surprise then that a number of clubs are interested in his services, with The Scotsman reporting that Leicester City, Brighton and Watford are all monitoring his situation.

The paper reckon the interest from Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester is at a stage where a bid could be lodged in the comings weeks, with the Hoops said to value the player at around £10m.

How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…

McGregor’s real valuation

If Celtic sell the player for that kind of price they’ll be selling themselves very short. It’s not a realistic valuation for a player at the club who can be a mainstay for years to come.

The sale of Moussa Dembele to Lyon last summer set a new bar in terms of outgoing player fees, and it can’t be argued that the Frenchman was more important to the Hoops than McGregor has been.

He’s the midfield fulcrum around which Celtic’s entire game is played and even when sitting in a deeper role he can dictate all of the team’s play going forward.

With composure, technical passing ability, vision and creativity, alongside pace and physicality when needed, he’s a midfield all-rounder that Neil Lennon must build a team around next season.

Celtic should be expecting any team to double that reported £10m valuation before even entertaining the notion of him being sold.

With his contract not expiring until 2023, there is absolutely no rush when it comes to selling him.